Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
macbeth
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/03
#1Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
Posted: 3/2/24 at 3:12pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Update-All-Broadway-Lights-to-Be-Dimmed-for-Hinton-Battle-20240302
Having seen all 3 of his Tony(!) winning performances and met the man on a few occasions, this was more than well deserved.
#2Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
Posted: 3/2/24 at 3:15pm
“the decision was made to dim all lights” ….because you made the wrong first decision and were (rightfully) pressured into making the right one.
They need to do better across the board.
I am big. It’s the REVIVALS that got small.
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#3Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
Posted: 3/2/24 at 3:42pm
GiantsInTheSky2 said: "“the decision was made to dim all lights” ….because you made the wrong first decision and were (rightfully) pressured into making the right one.
They need to do better across the board."
100%
#4Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
Posted: 3/2/24 at 3:47pm
I know there’s bureaucracy involved in coordinating dates and time for this stuff which slows things down, but I truly don’t understand the general apparent resistance to dimming from the theater owners. It’s so brief, and there’s no other way for the industry to do this sort of honors. It shouldn’t just be reserved for the household name luminaries and icons- folks like Battle are just as important.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#5Hallelujah, League Reverses Hinton Battle Decision and Will Dim All the Lights!
Posted: 3/2/24 at 4:06pm
Think we are long overdue for a review of the criteria and a publishing of that criteria so there's never a question of when a full dimming vs partial dimming vs no dimming will occur. Whether that's based on number of years employed on Broadway or Tony noms/wins or above-the-title credits or something else, so it's not an arbitrary decision every time.
Because when the League says "yes" to dimming for Hinton Battle (3 Tonys, 7 shows over 25 years) –– which is, to be clear, deserved –– but "no" to someone like Michael McGrath (1 Tony, 15 shows over 30 years) –– which would also be deserved –– it's clear that there are no rules governing this practice.
Need input from all the unions that have contracts with the League, too –– because as of now the majority of dimmings only occur for members of AEA, DG, and SDC (aka the most notable people).
But perhaps there are other ways to honor people too. Maybe there's an annual In Memoriam celebration in a Broadway theatre for those in the community that have died within the past year, with a tribute to each from a former colleague + some performances, followed by a few minutes of light-dimming. There are stagehands and GMs and press agents and musicians and service providers ensemble folks and producers who spend their entire lives on Broadway but don't currently get dimmings or individualized Broadway Memorial celebrations because they aren't as "notable." That would be a great thing for Broadway Cares or the Entertainment Community Fund to spearhead, and I'm sure the landlords would kick in some money to underwrite it. Do it on a Monday evening in February, honoring the previous calendar year's deaths, when things are quieter and "Gala season" hasn't begun yet, and let it go long. That, to me, seems more meaningful and community-focused than a mere dimming of lights.
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